In a shocking report by a government human rights body, the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), an average of 19 people have been reported missing every single day through cases of enforced disappearances and 344 others arrested arbitrarily daily between June 18, 2024 and November 20, 2024 when the anti-finance bill protests began.
Effectively, this translates to 74 cases of enforced disappearances and 1,376 cases of haphazard arrest during the period under review spanning four months.
Further, out of 74 cases of enforced disappearances, 26 people are still missing and a total of 610 cases of injuries were reported during the demonstrations.
Addressing the media earlier today, KNCHR Vice chairperson Raymond Nyeris decried the gravity of human rights violations by the government saying that most of the abductions and arrests had been perpetrated by the security organs.
He attributed the cases to the historic anti-government protests which led to the deaths of over 30 people.
According to the commissioner, the human rights body, a total of 610 cases of injuries meted on to protesters through gunshots, teargas canisters and other forms of police brutality.
“The commission has documented 1,376 arbitrary arrests and 610 cases of injuries from June 18 to November 2024. The injuries were sustained in the course of demos and range from deep fractures, bullet wounds, soft tissue injuries and inhalation of teargas.” He said.
“Most of the injuries were inflicted by the security officers against protesters. 25 injuries inflicted on security officers by protesters.” He added.
Nyeris condemned the incidences warning that the actions by the State threaten to take the country back to the dark days.
“The rising cases of abduction and enforced disappearances are an affront to human rights tenets that our country ascribes to. We continue to witness and record the cruel, degrading and inhumane treatment of persons taken against their will.” He said.
“The daring happenings recorded on videos and photographs some even displaying civilian and security agent number plates are rapidly taking the country back to the dark days of our history.” He added.
The June protests by the Gen Zs resulted in deaths of over 40 people although the civil society groups reported 61 fatalities.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki who at the time was serving as the Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary disputed the findings insisting that 42 Kenyans died during the anti-government protests between June and August.
While appearing before the National Assembly Security and Administration Committee then, Kindiki explained that the committee received a report detailing the information of 30 people who were killed during the protests and the circumstances around which they died.
